Steel refining with an electrochemical cell

Patent · Fri Jan 01 04:00:00 EST 1988

OSTI ID:866589

Blander, Milton ^[1]; Cook, Glenn M ^[2]

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1. Palos Park, IL
2. Naperville, IL

Apparatus for processing a metallic fluid containing iron oxide, container for a molten metal including an electrically conductive refractory disposed for contact with the molten metal which contains iron oxide, an electrolyte in the form of a basic slag on top of the molten metal, an electrode in the container in contact with the slag electrically separated from the refractory, and means for establishing a voltage across the refractory and the electrode to reduce iron oxide to iron at the surface of the refractory in contact with the iron oxide containing fluid. A process is disclosed for refining an iron product containing not more than about 10% by weight oxygen and not more than about 10% by weight sulfur, comprising providing an electrolyte of a slag containing one or more of calcium oxide, magnesium oxide, silica or alumina, providing a cathode of the iron product in contact with the electrolyte, providing an anode in contact with the electrolyte electrically separated from the cathode, and operating an electrochemical cell formed by the anode, the cathode and the electrolyte to separate oxygen or sulfur present in the iron product therefrom.

• Research Organization: Argonne National Laboratory (ANL), Argonne, IL
• DOE Contract Number: W-31109-ENG-38
• Assignee: United States of America as represented by United States (Washington, DC)
• Patent Number(s): US 4744875
• OSTI ID: 866589
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

/205/
10
alumina
anode
apparatus
basic
basic slag
calcium
calcium oxide
cathode
cell
cell apparatus
cell formed
comprising
comprising providing
conductive
conductive refractory
contact
container
containing
containing fluid
containing iron
contains
contains iron
disclosed
disposed
duct containing
electrically
electrically conductive
electrochemical
electrochemical cell
electrode
electrolyte
establishing
fluid
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form
formed
including
iron
iron oxide
magnesium
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means
metal
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metallic
metallic fluid
molten
molten metal
operating
oxide
oxide containing
oxygen
process
processing
product
product containing
product therefrom
providing
rate oxygen
reduce
refining
refractory
refractory disposed
separate
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separated
silica
slag
slag containing
steel
sulfur
surface
therefrom
top
voltage
weight
weight sulfur